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The "holy wars" of the Middle East may make us forget that the three religions of Abraham teach a deep commitment to peace and brotherhood. Below are but a few of the many exhortations to peace in the books holy to the three religions of the Middle East.
Surat Al-Anfal (#8) or the Spoils of War: on inclination to Peace
8:61 But if the enemy incline towards peace,
do thou (also) incline towards peace,
In Allah: for He is the One
that heareth and knoweth (all things)
Wa
'in-janahuu lis-salmi fajnah lahaa wa
ta-wakkal 'alallaah: 'inna-huu Huwas-
Samii-'ul-'Aliim.
62 Should they intend to decieve thee, - verily Allah
sufficeth thee: He it is that hath
strengthened thee
with his aid and with (company of) The Believers
Wa 'iny-yurii-duuu 'any-yakhda-'uuka fa-'inna
hasba-
kallaah. Huwa!-laziii'ayya-daka binas-rihii wa
bil-Mu'-miniin;
63 And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts:
Not if thou hadst spent all that is in the earth,
couldst thou have produced that affection, but Allah
Hath done it: for He is Exalted in might, Wise
Wa 'allafa bayna quluu-bihim. Law'anfaqta
maa fil-'arzi
jamii-'am-maaa 'allafta bayna quluu-bihim wa
laa-kinnal-
laaha'allafa baynahum; 'innahuu 'Aziizun Hakiim.
Islam and Tolerance
The Quran - Complete Electronic Book
Isaiah:
ISA 2:4 ... and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
vehitetu harbotam litim, vehanitoteyhem lemazmerot: Lo yisa goy el goy herev, lo yilmedu od milhama.
Psalms:
PSA 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
The Jewish Sages
Proverbs of the Sages ("Pirkei Avot")
Chapter 1 #12 Hillel and Shammai received the Torah from them. Hillel said: Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures and bringing them close to the Torah.
Chapter 1 #18 Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: On three things the world is sustained: on truth, on judgment, and on peace, as it is it says (Zechariah 8:16): "Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace."
Matthew:
MAT 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Hebrews:
HEB 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
James:
JAM 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
More about Religion -
The Druze - an Introduction by Hammud Quteish
History of Islam and the Arabs
Islam and the Concept of Martyrdom
Islam - My Religion - by Saida Nusseibeh
Jew, Jews and Jewish - Sense and nonsense about Judaism
Sufi Music - Sound and music occupy an important place in the life of most Sufis. It is a tool for the believer to get closer to God, dissolving the physical realm into the spiritual one by polishing the heart and enhancing the spiritual aspect of the human being over the physical being. More about Sufi Music
Books about:
Links
Religious Freedoms USA - promotes interfaith tolerance.
Abrahamic Forum - Moslems, Christians and Jews for Peace
United Religons Initiative - URI
Interfaith Encounter Association - Interfaith encounters in Israel
Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI) - an umbrella organization of over 70 Jewish, Muslim and Christian institutions actively working towards interreligious and intercultural understanding in Israel and the region.
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